FBI says cyber incident at New York field office ‘contained’

The FBI says it has contained a cyber incident at the agency’s New York field office that reportedly affected a computer network used in child sexual exploitation investigations.

In a statement to FedScoop, the agency said it is aware of the incident and is working to gain additional information. The FBI added: “This is an isolated incident that has been contained. As this is an ongoing investigation the FBI does not have further comment to provide at this time.”

CNN first reported details of the cyber incident, which is understood to have primarily affected the agency’s New York Field Office. Two sources briefed on the matter told CNN that the incident involved an FBI computer system used in investigations of images of child sexual exploitation.

The FBI has been compromised in by other cyber incidents in the past couple of years, including a November 2021 cyberattack on its Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal that resulted in fake cyber alert emails being sent on the agency’s behalf.

The FBI said at the time that it took action to remediate the software vulnerability, warned partners to disregard the fake emails and confirmed the integrity of its networks. However, the bureau has yet to publicly name a suspect for that attack.